Cory Bauer
Level 2 (275 points)
Apple TV

Q: Deleted an app, had to restore the Apple TV to get it back

So this was obnoxious. I had an app that was giving me some trouble on the Apple TV, so I chose to delete it from the home page, as doing so also deletes the App data, thinking I would then redownload the app fresh from the "purchased tab". Once the app was deleted, I located it in the purchased tab, but instead of the having the option to "get", the button was still "open".

 

"Open" of course, did nothing, because the app had been deleted (but apparently the Apple TV didn't know that). Additionally, a generic "null" icon had appeared on the home screen which could also not be deleted (going through the steps had no affect).

 

I tried rebooting the Apple TV, unplugging it, switching user accounts, and it all made no difference. The only way to eliminate the "null" and redownload the app I had deleted was to restore the whole stupid thing, lose all saved game progress, re-download every application, and re-enter all of the painful login information for every application using the onscreen keyboard (since there's no iOS remote or USB keyboard support).

 

What a miserable experience. Hopefully this was merely a fluke and doesn't affect others, but I thought I'd post just to warn others that if you delete an app, you may not be able to redownload it again.

Posted on Nov 9, 2015 8:04 AM

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Cory Bauer

Q: Deleted an app, had to restore the Apple TV to get it back

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Dr-House,Helpful

    Dr-House Dr-House Nov 12, 2015 4:46 PM in response to Cory Bauer
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 12, 2015 4:46 PM in response to Cory Bauer

    Same issue, twice with Transistor, app would never download data and this was the result.  The 4th generation Apple TV so far has been the worst apple product I've had for many reasons and this has added to it.  I've been so frustrated with random issues.  Have you been able to resolve this without a wipe?I have already set this Apple TV up 2 times and its getting old! 

  • by mitch218,

    mitch218 mitch218 Dec 13, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Cory Bauer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Cory Bauer

    I have just had the same thing happen when trying to use the Pandora app (since it wouldn't play). I'm left with the blank area on the home screen, and unable to re-download Pandora. Assuming this is a bug within the OS.

     

    Apple,

    Please review and fix in the next Apple TV OS.

    Thanks, mj

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Dec 14, 2015 5:07 AM in response to mitch218
    Level 10 (104,538 points)
    Apple TV
    Dec 14, 2015 5:07 AM in response to mitch218

    Did you delete the app from the main screen, the app menu or both. FWIW, I've reinstalled apps after deleting them without issue, it could be a problem with the app rather than the Apple TV or it's software.